Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze’s practice absence stirs Week 1 worry

After trading away DJ Moore, the Chicago Bears are expecting wide receiver Rome Odunze to elevate his game even further. However, he needs to be on the gridiron to truly make an impact.

That wasn’t the case on Monday, as Odunze was absent from practice, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. He left Thursday’s practice with a leg injury.

When Odunze went down, it was initially expected that the pass catcher would be, “all good,” via Dan Wiederer of the Athletic. That may still be the case, as one 40-minute practice session won’t make or break Odunze’s status.

Still, injuries are something that isn’t new to the receiver. He appeared in just 12 games in 2025 due to a stress fracture in his foot. Seeing Odunze going through injury problems will lead to obvious concern.

The Bears are set to release their first depth chart on Wednesday. Then, they’ll have a better idea of exactly where Odunze stands. Until then, fans will be holding their breath about the wide receiver’s Week 1 status.

Chicago Bears counting on Rome Odunze

The Bears felt comfortable trading away Moore in part due to the presence of Odunze. Drafted in the same class as Caleb Williams, the receiver is considered a key part of Chicago’s offensive core. In 2026, he is looking to prove he can handle WR1 duties.

Despite playing in just 12 games, Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. His 90 targets led the Bears. As his chemistry with Williams continues to grow, perhaps more of those targets turn into receptions.

The first order of business is getting Odunze back on the field. Chicago would like to see him practice before officially clearing him for Week 1. If that happens, those fans can breathe their sigh of relief. Should Odunze be forced to miss the game, the Bears’ passing attack would take a major blow.

The post Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze’s practice absence stirs Week 1 worry appeared first on ChiCitySports.